約伯記 3
1 此後，約伯開口咒詛自己的生日，
After this time Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day.
2 說：
And Job commenced, and said,
3 願我生的那日 和說懷了男胎的那夜都滅沒。
Oh that the day whereon I was born might perish, and the night when it was said, There hath been a male child conceived.
4 願那日變為黑暗； 願上帝不從上面尋找它； 願亮光不照於其上。
May that day be [covered with] darkness; may not God from above inquire for it, and may no light beam upon it.
5 願黑暗和死蔭索取那日； 願密雲停在其上； 願日蝕恐嚇它。
Oh that darkness and the shadow of death might defile it; may a cloud rest upon it; may the blackness of the day terrify it.
6 願那夜被幽暗奪取， 不在年中的日子同樂， 也不入月中的數目。
Yon night — let darkness seize upon it; let it not be united to the days of the year; let it not come into the number of the [periods lighted by the] moon.
7 願那夜沒有生育， 其間也沒有歡樂的聲音。
Lo, may that night be solitary, let no song of joy occur thereon.
8 願那咒詛日子且能惹動鱷魚的 咒詛那夜。
Let those denounce it that curse the day, who are ready to raise up their mourning cry.
9 願那夜黎明的星宿變為黑暗， 盼亮卻不亮， 也不見早晨的光線；
Let the stars of its twilight be darkened; let it hope for light, and there be none; and let it not behold the eyelids of the morning-dawn;
10 因沒有把懷我胎的門關閉， 也沒有將患難對我的眼隱藏。
Because God closed not against me the doors of the womb, and thus concealed trouble from my eyes.
11 我為何不出母胎而死？ 為何不出母腹絕氣？
Why did I not die [the moment I issued] from the womb, and [why] was I not born merely to perish at once?
12 為何有膝接收我？ 為何有奶哺養我？
Wherefore were knees ready to receive me? and for what purpose were breasts there that I might suck?
13 不然，我就早已躺臥安睡，
For now should I be lying still and be quiet; I should sleep: then would I be at rest,
14 和地上為自己重造荒邱的君王、謀士，
With kings and counsellors of the earth, who build up ruined places for themselves;
15 或與有金子、將銀子裝滿了房屋的王子 一同安息；
Or with princes possessing gold, who fill their houses with silver;
16 或像隱而未現、不到期而落的胎， 歸於無有，如同未見光的嬰孩。
Or as an untimely birth, hidden [from view] I should not exist; as infants that never have seen the light;
17 在那裏惡人止息攪擾， 困乏人得享安息，
There [where] the wicked cease from troubling; and where the exhausted weary are at rest;
18 被囚的人同得安逸， 不聽見督工的聲音。
[Where] the prisoners repose together, [and] they hear no more the taskmaster's voice.
19 大小都在那裏； 奴僕脫離主人的轄制。
The small with the great is there, and the servant free from his master.
20 受患難的人為何有光賜給他呢？ 心中愁苦的人為何有生命賜給他呢？
Wherefore giveth He now light to the labor-laden, and life unto the bitter in soul?
21 他們切望死，卻不得死； 求死，勝於求隱藏的珍寶。
Who wait for death, which [cometh] not; and who dig for it sooner than for hidden treasures;
22 他們尋見墳墓就快樂， 極其歡喜。
Who would rejoice even to exulting, who would be glad could they but find a grave?
23 人的道路既然遮隱， 上帝又把他四面圍困， 為何有光賜給他呢？
[Why is light given] to a man whose way is hidden, and around whom God hath placed a fence?
24 我未曾吃飯就發出歎息； 我唉哼的聲音湧出如水。
For before my food cometh my groaning, and like the water are poured forth my loud complaints.
25 因我所恐懼的臨到我身， 我所懼怕的迎我而來。
Because what I greatly dreaded is come upon me, and what I apprehended is come unto me.
26 我不得安逸，不得平靜， 也不得安息，卻有患難來到。
I have had no safety, and no quiet, and no rest; and [now] harrowing trouble is come.
